Pompey 0 - Chelsea 1

Chelsea hoodoo goes on

Pompey's Chelsea drought will stretch into another season after another customary defeat from the Fulham lodgers, but that doesn't tell the full story.

Chelsea were obviously favourites, but the weather sometimes acts as a great leveller, and the weather was wet, wet, wet. The conditions were reminiscent of a match against Leicester in our promotion campaign, the pitch wasn't as waterlogged, but was certainly hevier than normal and the ball zipped on when you least expected it.

Pompey had the first little snifters of goal, Hreiedarrson popping up in the penalty area once more, but Terry dived in to prevent him adding to his tally for the season. Kranjcar had another effort blocked after a Hayden Mullins slice ended up at this feet and Petr Cech showed how valued he is at Chelsea with a cracking save from Davis' drive from the edge of the block, 9 times out of 10 it would have beaten most 'keepers, but Cech isn't most 'keepers is he?

Chelsea were having the lion's share of possesion, but were not really threatening James' goal, Ashley Cole's driven cross across the face of goal being missed by Drogba was as closs as they were to come.

One thing was really standing out for me this half, and that was David Nugent's touch, he was coping really well with the conditions and was killing the ball dead when it pinged towards him, his work-rate has never been in question, but his close control seemed to have stepped another level.

Hermann was cropping up in all the right places as well, more than once an Icelandic head or foot got in just in time to block an avenue to goal.

Chelsea were mainly relying on shots from out the box, James spilled a couple to give them hope, but a blue shirt was always first to hand to mop up.

Second half and the action was to come, Pompey were to have two gilt-edged chances and Chelsea the one, the story writes itself really doesn't it?

Pompey were playing very deep, and not just in the water, Chelea were being allowed to get within 35 yards of goal pretty much unchallenged, but we were soaking up the pressure well and seemed content to burst forward on the break.

On about the hour mark Nugent produced the most silky of turns, John Terry was truly left for dead and Nugent bore down on goal, trouble is bloody Cech was still there and he again saved well when a goal seemed certain.

If that chance was a good one, the next one was more golden than C3PO after a good rub with brasso, Chelea pushed everyone forward and the ball broke to Crouch who was still 10 yards in his own half, thing is he was still 10 yards clear of any defender, he broke down the right and crossed into the path of Kranjcar who only had Cech to beat, he beat him, and the post, chance gone begging.

Quaresma came on for Chelsea and Pompey were looking to play out for a draw, the defence was deeper than the Titanic now, and Nugent was playing as another left-back.

Pompey countered the substition with one of their own, Utaka replacing Pennant.

Pompey got to about 10 minutes from the end when the inevitable happened, Quaresma crossed from the right, the ball squirmed through to Drogba on the far left, and the ball was dispatched into the bottom corner, the sucker-punch landed on Pompey's chin once more.

Pompey needed to press forward now, and Nugent bent in a beauty of a cross from the right, but Belletti did enough to put Kranjcar off and time was nearly up.

James managed a little sortie up front, but the game was up and Pompey had played valiantly, but ultimately ended up with nothing. They say you get what you deserve in football, I say, Bullshit.

Star Player

I know I've mentioned Nugent a fair bit today, but I feel he had his best game for us so far, and all without scoring, he is starting to look the player we hoped we had signed from Preston.

Hart & Kidd

Pomey announce after the game that Paul Hart and Brian Kidd would remain in charge until the end of the season, congratulations to both, and not many complaints either, onwards and upwards.

Relegation

The threat still lingers but if we play like this every game from now until the end of the season we are giving ourselves the best possible chance of survival surely?

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Went expecting a loss and then thought we might get a win, then when they scored, I thought a draw - and then we came full circle and lost anyway. Oh well, didn't we do well? If we play like that against the mid to bottom teams we are gonna win win win. This is the third match with Hart and Kidd in charge and each time the improvement has been really marked. The team looked organised, they each knew what they had to do, the attitude is right. But where the hell is Lady Luck? Never mind, I think we will be alright without her.

Went expecting a loss and then thought we might get a win, then when they scored, I thought a draw - and then we came full circle and lost anyway. Oh well, didn't we do well? If we play like that against the mid to bottom teams we are gonna win win win. This is the third match with Hart and Kidd in charge and each time the improvement has been really marked. The team looked organised, they each knew what they had to do, the attitude is right. But where the hell is Lady Luck? Never mind, I think we will be alright without her.

crackin' report paul, some fantastic one liners in there. i was obviously disappointed not to get anything, as we did deserve something, but came away happy with how we played - missed chances cost us, we could and probably should have got the 2-1 win i forecast...

crackin' report paul, some fantastic one liners in there. i was obviously disappointed not to get anything, as we did deserve something, but came away happy with how we played - missed chances cost us, we could and probably should have got the 2-1 win i forecast...

the width was an issue tho wasnt it, why did pennant keep coming in field? altho that said conditions were not really set up for players to 'try and beat their man' where they... i would guess the touchlines were even worse, and we could have been left with the scenario where the player went but not the ball a few times, and we did see this at times didnt we.

the width was an issue tho wasnt it, why did pennant keep coming in field? altho that said conditions were not really set up for players to 'try and beat their man' where they... i would guess the touchlines were even worse, and we could have been left with the scenario where the player went but not the ball a few times, and we did see this at times didnt we.

Great report as always Paul and I agree that we struggled to find an outlet. Heard a comment last night that Mullins was crap but he kept Lampard quiet for long spells. What we did lack though was pace. Still good signs for the fight ahead, we could be in bottom three after tonight.

Great report as always Paul and I agree that we struggled to find an outlet. Heard a comment last night that Mullins was crap but he kept Lampard quiet for long spells. What we did lack though was pace. Still good signs for the fight ahead, we could be in bottom three after tonight.

The weather was a leveller & our efforts should have given us a point. But we don't always get what we deserve & so onto Boro, where we must get something. We were quite solid & could question the goal about a possible offside, have another look at the player right in front of Jamo as Dogbreath shoots!! Fingers crossed on the game 2nite.

The weather was a leveller & our efforts should have given us a point. But we don't always get what we deserve & so onto Boro, where we must get something. We were quite solid & could question the goal about a possible offside, have another look at the player right in front of Jamo as Dogbreath shoots!! Fingers crossed on the game 2nite.

We didn't deserve that, a draw at least. Was there a hand ball in the first half, I couldn't see from my position but the Fratton end were shouting? Why take off Pennant and bring on Utaka? I wish we'd shut people down quicker, all the top four chase people especially after losing the ball, we just pull back and stand off. Apart from that it was a good performance and should bode well for Boro, having said that we tend to play to the opposition, the Stoke game being an obvious example.

We didn't deserve that, a draw at least. Was there a hand ball in the first half, I couldn't see from my position but the Fratton end were shouting? Why take off Pennant and bring on Utaka? I wish we'd shut people down quicker, all the top four chase people especially after losing the ball, we just pull back and stand off. Apart from that it was a good performance and should bode well for Boro, having said that we tend to play to the opposition, the Stoke game being an obvious example.

If I was being realistic, its what I expected, but of course I hoped for more. In fact I said I'd be happy with a good performance, and we got that. Hart deserves to be made manager for the time being, I'm glad they've done that. A performance to be proud of, and fingers crossed, we should be OK. But the league table does make very scary reading at the moment. Loved it when Jamo ran up front at the end - I don't remember seeing a Pompey keeper do that before?

If I was being realistic, its what I expected, but of course I hoped for more. In fact I said I'd be happy with a good performance, and we got that. Hart deserves to be made manager for the time being, I'm glad they've done that. A performance to be proud of, and fingers crossed, we should be OK. But the league table does make very scary reading at the moment. Loved it when Jamo ran up front at the end - I don't remember seeing a Pompey keeper do that before?

The game changed when my least ever Pompey 'player' was brought on. What does Utaka do in training that he doesnt do in the match?? He must be a fantastic trainer cos he is so bad in a game, just cant be bothered, offered no help to Johnson...infact, the goal...Johnson got pulled over to the centre, and all Utaka could do is stand on the 18 yard line and let Drogba go free! Hart and Kidd were telling him what to do....as if no-one's ever done that before, come on guys, leave him at home!

The game changed when my least ever Pompey 'player' was brought on. What does Utaka do in training that he doesnt do in the match?? He must be a fantastic trainer cos he is so bad in a game, just cant be bothered, offered no help to Johnson...infact, the goal...Johnson got pulled over to the centre, and all Utaka could do is stand on the 18 yard line and let Drogba go free! Hart and Kidd were telling him what to do....as if no-one's ever done that before, come on guys, leave him at home!

Thought the ref was mostly ok - he seemed to pick up on a lot more of the nudges and knocks on Crouchie. Linesman on the South side was a fat, blind moron - was not watching the touchlines because he was looking too hard for offside. I was a bit more depressed than usual here as we seemed to be reverting to that position where there were no blue shirts in the Chelsea half. Also, an indivative move for me was when Sol cleared the ball by skying it and then three Pompey players including Nico were looking up into the sky wondering where it would land whereas Chelsea players were in there waiting for it when it got down. I felt we didn't have so much dogged fight here but then I spose Chelsea being Chelsea, containment was the best we could hope for. Bit depressing seeing it at home.

Thought the ref was mostly ok - he seemed to pick up on a lot more of the nudges and knocks on Crouchie. Linesman on the South side was a fat, blind moron - was not watching the touchlines because he was looking too hard for offside. I was a bit more depressed than usual here as we seemed to be reverting to that position where there were no blue shirts in the Chelsea half. Also, an indivative move for me was when Sol cleared the ball by skying it and then three Pompey players including Nico were looking up into the sky wondering where it would land whereas Chelsea players were in there waiting for it when it got down. I felt we didn't have so much dogged fight here but then I spose Chelsea being Chelsea, containment was the best we could hope for. Bit depressing seeing it at home.

And favourite chants: Chelski fans singing "Where's the w**ker with the bell?" which made everyone chuckle. And bloke near me was chanting "Your uncle is a w**ker" at Lampard which I was surprised that it didn't catch on.

And favourite chants: Chelski fans singing "Where's the w**ker with the bell?" which made everyone chuckle. And bloke near me was chanting "Your uncle is a w**ker" at Lampard which I was surprised that it didn't catch on.

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